Eyes/Non-crusty Vets in Maryland?

[Felixitous]

Without realizing it, last night I put hay in my girls' cage that had lots of tiny/thready pieces. Each now has one eye that's red, and I saw a piece sticking out of Marcy's eye earlier. I cannot get it out, so I know I need to take them to a vet tomorrow (it's 9 PM here). Before anyone asks, I did a full cage-clean and removed all the offending hay and picked through the new stuff very carefully.

Does anyone know of any good guinea vets in Maryland? I'm not getting a lot of information looking online - I've heard Easton Animal Hospital is good, but I don't know specifically if they're good about small animals. I see on Guinea Pig Zone that Maryland Avian and Exotics Veterinary Care has a few good ratings, though only 3. If no one responds before tomorrow morning, I'll be taking them there.

I'm trying not to panic, but I don't think I'll be sleeping too well tonight.

 

[Felixitous]

Or would a regular cat-and-dog vet possible be able to flush their eyes? It's not internal or necessarily a cavy-only sort of thing. I'm really worried about being able to physically get out to Gaithersburg - it's over an hour and a half away, and I don't get paid for another few days, and I don't think I have enough gas to get out here. I know there's a cat/dog vet about ten minutes away, though. Is that a bad idea?

 

[bpatters]

There are vet lists at www.guineapigzone.com and at www.guinealynx.info. And here's a list I ran across the other day, but I have no knowledge of any of these vets: https://exoticpets.about.com/od/generalresources/a/Exotics-Vet.htm

 

[Princess_Piggie]

I'd personally go for an exotic specialist, especially with something as delicate as the eyes. I've had this with my previous boars, and recently another user had the issue too. It's quite a frequent injury from what I've heard. Anyway, my point is, the majority of pigs make a full recovery.

Grab some saline, and a wash cloth, and give the area around the eyes a gentle wipe to try and stave off infection.

I'd advise going to an emergency out of hours though, as again, with something as delicate as eyes, time plays a big factor in recovery. Just my opinion though.

 

[bpatters]

Actually, come to think of it, eyes are one of the very few things about guinea pigs that a regular vet can usually treat. All small animal eyes are about the same, and it's usually just a matter of removing a foreign body and prescribing antibiotic and anesthetic drops. So long as you make sure the vet doesn't prescribe any oral antibiotics that guinea pigs can't take (see the list at www.guinealynx.info under the Index link), it should be ok. That would be better than waiting around to try to find an exotic vet. Eye injuries are usually pretty painful, and they need quick attention.

 

[melynda]

Are you out on the shore @Felixitous? I know of a few cavy vets by me but I'm in Columbia. If you're across the bridge that doesn't help much.

ETA: I think @Starthecavy123 is out that way.

 

[Pico911]

@Felisitous
I dont know what part of Marylnad you are in but Fall Road Animal hospital in Baltimore has a 24 hour small animal and exotic animal care with Dr. Kim Hammond at the helm. Here is their info. (broken link removed),

6314 Falls Road | Baltimore, MD 21209, 410-825-9100410-825-9100. Hope this helps


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[Pico911]

there is some in your area too 1. VCA Columbia Animal Hospital at Hickory Ridge
10788 Hickory Ridge Road, Columbia, MD 21044



2. VCA Lewis Animal Hospital
10665 Route 108 , Columbia , MD 21044
This may be better

 

[melynda]

I'm not the one who needs the vet.

 

[Pico911]

I just realized that lol @melynda

 

[Felixitous]

@bpatters The lists didn't help a whole lot, unfortunately. I did check. Most of them are just as far away as Gaithersburg for me. Thanks though!
@melynda Yes, I'm on the shore, around Chester/Grasonville area (on Kent Island, if you know where that is?).

I think I'll try the close vet first, and if I don't like them, I'll take them to the exotic vet. I almost wish this were a case of me just being cheap, but I can't actually get out that far with the gas in my car :\

 

[Pico911]

Where are you from @Felixitous? What is your zip code I can find one for you like that using https://www.veterinarians.com

 

[melynda]

@bpatters The lists didn't help a whole lot, unfortunately. I did check. Most of them are just as far away as Gaithersburg for me. Thanks though!
@melynda Yes, I'm on the shore, around Chester/Grasonville area (on Kent Island, if you know where :\

Heck yes I do!
Fisherman's Inn is one of my all time favorite restaurants. My grandparents used to live in Easton (grandma moved after Granddad died) and we'd stop there to eat every time we visited them.

 

[Rywen]

I use MD Avian and Exotics and highly recommend them! If you email after hours sometimes Dr. Carr answers late at night. Also, if it shouldn't wait there's a 24 hr emergency exotics vet in NoVa, the info is on MD Avian & Exotics outgoing phone message. If you leave a VM they call back pretty quickly during office hours.

 

[Felixitous]

@Pico911 That tool doesn't appear to have a cavy-specific search function, which was what I was looking for. I know where there are vet's offices nearby, though they're cat/dog vets, but (hopefully) they should be able to flush their eyes and prescribe some antibiotics for them. Thank you though!

 

[Felixitous]

@Rywen Thank you! I'm really glad someone who's actually been there posted, that's great to know. I think I'll still try the nearby vet for tomorrow, but I'll head out that way if anything more serious ever happens (or if I don't like the services at the local vet).
@melynda Oh neat! Fisherman's is great, haha. Kinda cool to see other semi-local cavy owners c:

 

[Rywen]

Oops, just realized you are on Kent island. There's an exotics vet in Severn and one in Edgewater. Edgewater is definitely closer to you than Gaithersburg. Probably Severn is too. Also one on Laurel, that's closer than Gaithersburg as well. Trouble copying and pasting on my phone but they were listed in guinea lynx, check AEMV link.

 

[Pico911]

@Felixitous It will tell you if the vet cater to small and exotic animals

 

[Pico911]

@Felixitous

1. Midshore Veterinary Service
602 Dutchmans Ln, Easton, MD 21601
Midshore Veterinary Service offers 24hour emergency service 7 days a week to established patients. Our goal is to make your pet happy. Our doctors are Dr. Steven P. Harris, whose area of expertise is predominately small animals, Exotics and provides ambulatory care to large animals.

 

[Felixitous]

@Pico911 Thank you! I'm adding them to my list of vets to call. I'll try the vet finder again - guessing I just didn't realize how to use it?